For airlines to operate safely and avoid the spread of coronavirus during flights, companies began using High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. However, Aviation Clean Air (ACA) is the only system that is proactive in neutralizing pathogens while improving interior air quality.
The company's second phase of testing has been completed. The NeedlePoint Bi-Polar Ionization (NPBITM) technology, used for both airborne and ground-use purification systems, can neutralize 99.99 percent of coronavirus pathogens within 30 minutes. This is an improvement from the 99.4 percent efficiency from earlier testing.
The Clean Air airborne system is a patented Ionization Purification System certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. The NPBI is also ozone-free and is the only system of its kind to pass the RCTA DO-160 standard for aircraft.
Proactive System
ACA partnered with Innovative Bioanalysis who conducted the laboratory tests in an environment that replicated the conditions of commercial and corporate aircraft interiors. As a proactive system, NPBI operates through the existing environmental control system (ECS) of an aircraft.
Coronavirus infects others as pathogens latch onto a new host. Pathogens are released via cough, a sneeze, or other unsanitary ways and remain airborne for as long as possible depending on the environment. The virus survives longer if it can latch onto airborne particulates.
To avoid the infectious airborne spread of the virus, the NPBI leverages an electronic charge for the air system to have a high concentration of positive and negative ions. As the ions flow through the air, they also attach to particles and create a pattern of particle combination. When the particles become large, they are eliminated or neutralized.
The charged ions have microbicidal effects on pathogens. They neutralize coronavirus pathogens as well as other types of viruses, allergens, mold spores, and contaminants that may be circulating in the aircraft. The positive and negative ions react to the cell membrane of all pathogens and harmful contaminates to hinder reproduction and are subsequently eliminated
"HEPA filters that are being used on most commercial aircraft are efficient in removing particulates that are greater in size than 3 microns (3µ), but we know the COVID-19 virus is between .002 - .125µ in size. That means that the HEPA filters may not remove the virus itself if the virus is attached to a smaller airborne particulate," said Jonathan Saltman of Aviation Clean Air. The company aims to partner with international airlines so that their existing HEPA filters can have added efficiency since the ACA "system removes particulates that these filters cannot - in addition to neutralizing airborne and surface pathogens."
READ: Coronavirus: How Do Airlines Disinfect Airplanes Today?
Safely Flying with Aviation Clean Air
The ACA system has been approved and is available for all aircraft models, shared the company. As the proactive system automatically runs through the aircraft's ECS and does not require regular maintenance. The system does not only neutralize pathogens in the air but also eliminates odors and cleans all surfaces of the aircraft of fomites.
"Our system prevents the spread of viruses by aerosolization, which is now being shown as the primary method that COVID-19 spreads," added Saltman. "The NPBITM technology is the next critical step to re-instill confidence with the public that it's safe to fly again with Aviation Clean Air on board," added Saltman.
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